Engine starting aid

ABSTRACT

The following specification describes an assembly for delivering a predetermined amount of engine starting aid fluid to an engine by means of a passageway through a solenoid armature placed in communication with the valve of a starting aid can on energization of the solenoid coil to communicate the starting aid to a chamber of known volume. On deenergization the armature drives the fluid in the chamber through the passageway to the engine and the fluid is maintained separate from the electrical circuitry without the use of moving seals.

United States Patent Rasch May 9, 1972 [54] ENGINE STARTING AID 3,416,507 12/1968 Little 1 23/180 R [72] Inventor: Leroy Rasch Springfield Primary Examiner-Laurence M. Goodridge [7 A igneeI wart-Warner Corp., Chicago, Ill. Attorney-Augustus G. Douvas, William J. Newman and Norton Lesser [22] Filed: Jan. 13, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 106,148 [57] ABSTRACT The following specification describes an assembly for deliver- 52 US. Cl. ..123/1s0 R, 123/1875 R ing a predetermined amount of engine Starting aid fluid [51] Int. Cl ..F02m 1/16 engine by means of a passageway through a solenoid armature [58] Field 0 Search 123/180 R 180 AC 180 E 180 P placed in communication with the valve of a starting aid can Q 179 179 on energization of the solenoid coil to communicate the starting aid to a chamber of known volume. On deenergization the [56] References Cited armature drives the fluid in the chamber through the passageway to the engine and the fluid is maintained separate ED STATES PATENTS from the electrical circuitry without the use of moving seals.

2,130,666 9/1938 Coffey ..l23/180 R 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU MAY 9 I972 3, 6 61 l 3 3 as Y\ INVENTOR Leroy L. Rosch By mun/ Attorney ENGINE STARTING AID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates in general to an assembly for delivering an engine starting aid to an internal combustion engine and more particularly to an economical and safe assembly for delivering a controlled amount of starting aid to an engine.

2. Description of the Prior Art In prior US. Pat. No. 3,416,507, an arrangement is shown for remote control of an ether dispensing or aerosol can to provide ether or other starting aid fluid for assisting engine starting. The patented arrangement removes the hazard of exposing the highly inflammable fluid or gas to any electrical spark by separating the fluid from any possible contact with the coil or its connection without the use of any moving seals; however, the fluid continues to flow as long as the coil is ener gized. To limit the amount of fluid discharged on any single energization of the coil usually requires special configurations and at least several moving seals, and in the case of the prior arrangement would appear to require substantial redesign since the space is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes to enable the discharge ofa predetermined quantity of starting aid fluid on any single energization of the coil with a very simple and ingenious adaptation of the structure shown in the above patent and the use of a single moving seal. This is accomplished through a passageway in the armature communicating the fluid to a chamber of predetermined size in which the armature is located so that the chamber is used to both receive the armature and control the amount of starting aid fluid applied on each coil energization. The armature passageway is connected to the engine on deenergization of the coil to transmit the fluid in the chamber to the engine. Thus, the armature provides numerous functions and contributes to an economical and reliable starting aid assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top elevational view of the starting aid assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the starting aid assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings an engine starting aid assembly is indicated by the reference character 10. The assembly includes an annular housing 12 on which an engine starting aid can 14 is detachably supported by means ofa pivotal bail 16. The housing 12 and can 14 are carried on the wall ofa vehicle by means of ears l7 and the can 12 contains ether or other volatile engine starting aid fluid under pressure. The fluid is released on operation of a valve 18 operated by a solenoid armature 20, seen in FIG. 3, in response to energization of a coil 22. The armature 20 has a valve operating plunger 24 extending through an axial passageway 26 in a radial wall 28 separating the coil 22 from the can 14 with the wall 28 having a radial passageway 30 for the transmission of the gas, as explained in the aforementioned patent, through a fitting 32 and conduit 34 to the vehicle carburetor.

The coil 22 is located in a chamber 36 defined by the annular wall of housing 12 and on the opposite side of wall 28 from can 14. Chamber 36 has a back wall 38 through which electrical terminals 40 extend to the coil 22 for energizing the coil in response to actuation of the ignition and other appropriate switch to apply the starting aid fluid. The coil 22 is appropriately spaced from the wall 38 by a spacer 38 and plates 42 and 44 spaced on opposite sides of the coil and contributing to the magnetic circuit for armature 20.

Also, as explained in the aforementioned patent, fluid is prevented from entering the chamber 36 in which the coil 22 is located by a cup-shaped can 48 having a rim flange at its open end secured to plate 44. Plate 44 in turn is secured to wall 28. A central aperture or passageway 50 is provided in plate 44 communicating with passageway 26 and through which the plunger 26 extends. The plunger 26 is secured to the armature 20 for movement therewith to operate the valve 18 for releasing fluid from can 14.

In the present application, however, the fluid is not transmitted directly from the can 14 through passageway 30 to the carburetor, but the fluid is first measured as will be explained to limit the amount dispensed for each coil energization. The back wall 38 of chamber 36 in the present application is provided with a hollow axially extending boss 52 coaxial with the armature 20 for nestingly receiving a similarly shaped and correspondingly sized hollow extension on the can 48 to define a chamber 54 separated from chamber 36 by the can 48.

Chamber 54 communicates with the passageway 26 by means of an axial passageway 56 in the armature 20 coaxially aligned with a passageway 58 in the plunger 24. The plunger 24 has a reduced portion received for a short distance in a reduced portion of passageway 56 and secured to the armature by spaced and mating respective shoulders 60. A sealing O-ring 62 is carried on the plunger 24 at the juncture with armature 20 for sealing passageway 50 when the armature is operated. The plunger 24 and armature 20 are axially biased in a direction from the valve 18 by a coil spring 62 located in passageway 24 between a shoulder 64 on the plunger and a shoulder in the passageway to hold the shoulder 64 against plate 44 and close the opening 50 therein. The plate 44, therefore, acts as a stop for the plunger and armature in their normal position with the coil 22 deenergized, and when the coil is energized the plate also acts as a stop.

When the coil 22 is energized, the armature 20 is moved toward plate 44, which serves as a pole piece, and the plunger 24 operates valve 18 against the bias of spring 62 and the usual spring bias on valve 18. The passageway 58 in plunger 24 is flared radially outwardly adjacent the end that engages valve 18 to define a peripheral wall portion 66 that overlaps the valve 18 and prevents the passage of gas from the can 14 into passageways 24 and 30. Instead the gas flows through passageways 58 and 56 into chamber 54. As the armature 20 engages plate 44, seal 62 closes the plate opening 50 and further armature travel is terminated. Since no outlet is provided from chamber 54 at this time, the gas flow from can 14 is terminated as soon as the pressure in chamber 54 equals the pressure in the can 14 and the starting aid gas in the chamber 54 and passageways 56 and 58 corresponds to the volume of the chamber and passageway.

Thereafter the coil 22 is deenergized in response to the deactivation of the appropriate switch, and the plunger 24 and armature 20 move from plate 44 and valve 18 respectively under the influence of spring 62 to communicate chamber 54 with passageways 26 and 30. Gas in chamber 54 is now transmitted to the engine carburetor through passageway 30, fitting 32 and conduit 34. Thereafter, the coil 22 may be again energized to repeat the process for delivering a predetermined quantity of gas.

The foregoing constitutes a description of an improved assembly for transmitting a predetermined quantity of starting aid gas to an engine and, although not limited thereto, the inventive concepts are believed set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A starting aid assembly having a coil for moving an armature in one direction against a spring bias in response to energization of said coil for operating the valve of a can containing an engine starting aid fluid under pressure to release said fluid for transmission to an engine with said armature moved in the opposite direction in response to deenergization of said coil to restore said valve and prevent further release of said fluid, the improvement comprising a passageway located intermediate said armature and said valve, a radial passageway communicating with said intermediate passageway and adapted to transmit said fluid to said engine, a chamber located on the side of said armature opposite said intermediate passageway, a passageway in said armature communicating said intermediate passageway with said armature chamber and carried by said armature effective on energization of said coil to move said armature in one direction for operating said valve to communicate the fluid released from said can solely through said armature passageway to said armature chamber until the pressure in said armature chamber is equal to the pressure in said can whereby further release of fluid from said can is terminated, and effective on deenergization of said coil and movement of said armature in the opposite direction for placing said armature chamber in communication with said radial passageway through sad intermediate passageway for transmitting said fluid to said engine.

2. The assembly claimed in claim 1 in which said means comprises a wall moved with said armature in said intermediate passageway for encircling said valve on operation of said valve to confine said fluid to said armature passageway.

3. ln the assembly claimed in claim 1, a chamber for receiving said coil, and sealing means maintaining said coil chamber and armature chamber continuously sealed against the passage of said fluid therebetween.

4. The assembly claimed in claim 3 in which said maintaining means comprises an annular wall encircling said armature and having an imperforate back wall to define said armature chamber.

5. The assembly claimed in claim 4 in which a plate is secured to said annular wall for assisting the completion of a magnetic circuit to said armature and having an opening therein fro enabling said armature to operate said valve while serving as a stop for movement of said armature in each direction.

6. The assembly claimed in claim 5 in which said means carried by said armature effective for communicating said fluid solely with said armature chamber includes a seal for sealing said plate opening in response to movement of said armature in said one direction.

7. An assembly for use in starting an internal combustion engine by communicating to said engine a starting aid fluid released from an aerosol can on operation of a fluid releasing member at one end ofsaid can, the improvement comprising a housing, a coil located in said housing, means for extending an electrical circuit through said housing to said coil from a remote position whereby said coil is energized, an armature for said coil and including a plunger with said armature and plunger operated in one direction on energization of said coil, means for biasing said plunger and armature in a direction opposite said one direction for movement in said opposite direction in response to deenergization of said coil, means on said housing for detachably supporting said aerosol can on said housing in a position wherein said releasing member is operated by said operation of said plunger in said one direction to release said fluid from said can, a wall integrally formed on said housing for separating said coil from said can and having a passageway for receiving said plunger, a cupshaped can having an annular wall fixed to said integral wall for encircling said armature and having an imperforate back wall spaced from said armature to define a chamber, means carried by said armature and plunger for transmitting said released gas in response to operation of said armature and plunger in said one direction to said chamber only, and means for transmitting said gas in said chamber through said passageway to said engine in response to deenergization of said coil and movement of said armature in said opposite direction to terminate operation of said releasing member.

8. An assembly for use in starting an internal combustion engine having means for communicating a combustible fluid to said engine, the improvement comprising a housing, a coil in said housing energizable from a remote position, an armature encircled by said coil and operated in one direction on energization of said COli, an axial passageway extending through said armature, means for detachably supporting an aerosol can containing a combustible fluid on said housing for control by said operated armature to release said combustible fluid from said can, one wall integrally formed intermediate the ends of said housing with said coil and armature disposed one one side of said wall and said can disposed on the opposite side of said wall, a pair of communicating passageways in said wall with one of said pair of passageways extending axially of said coil and the other of said pair of passageways adapted to transmit fluid from said one passageway to said engine, means carried by said armature extending into said one wall passageway and having a passageway coaxial with said armature passageway in communication with said armature passageway and said pair of passageways and operated by said operated armature for transmitting said released combustible fluid from said can to said armature passageway while preventing the transmission of said released fluid to either of said pair of passageways in response to movement of said armature in said one direction for releasing said fluid, a spring in said one passageway for biasing said armature in the direction opposite said one direction, a cup-shaped member having an annular wall coaxial with said coil for encircling said armature and an imperforate back wall spaced from said armature to define a chamber communicating with said armature passageway for receiving a predetermined quantity of released fluid from said can in response to the control of said can to release said fluid by said operated armature and thereafter discharging said fluid to said pair of passageways in response to armature movement in opposite direction for placing said means passageway in communication with said pair of passageways, a pole piece for said coil sealingly engaged with said one side of said integrally formed wall, and a flange integrally formed on the end of said annular wall opposite said imperforate back wall for sealing engagement with said pole piece to prevent gas in said passageways from contacting said coil. 

1. A starting aid assembly having a coil for moving an armature in one direction against a spring bias in response to energization of said coil for operating the valve of a can containing an engine starting aid fluid under pressure to release said fluid for transmission to an engine with said armature moved in the opposite direction in response to deenergization of said coil to restore said valve and prevent further release of said fluid, the improvement comprising a passageway located intermediate said armature and said valve, a radial passageway communicating with said intermediate passageway and adapted to transmit said fluid to said engine, a chamber located on the side of said armature opposite said intermediate passageway, a passageway in said armature communicating said intermediate passageway with said armature chamber and carried by said armature effective on energization of said coil to move said armature in one direction for operating said valve to communicate the fluid released from said can solely through said armature passageway to said armature chamber until the pressure in said armature chamber is equal to the pressure in said can whereby further release of fluid from said can is terminated, and effective on deenergization of said coil and movement of said armature in the opposite direction for placing said armature chamber in communication with said radial passageway through sad intermediate passageway for transmitting said fluid to said engine.
 2. The assembly claimed in claim 1 in which said means comprises a wall moved with said armature in said intermediate passageway for encircling said valve on operation of said valve to confine said fluid to said armature passageway.
 3. In the assembly claimed in claim 1, a chamber for receiving said coil, and sealing means maintaining said coil chamber and armature chamber continuously sealed against the passage of said fluid therebetween.
 4. The assembly claimed in claim 3 in which said maintaining means comprises an annular wall encircling said armature and having an imperforate back wall to define said armature chamber.
 5. The assembly claimed in claim 4 in which a plate is secured to said annular wall for assisting the completion of a magnetic circuit to said armature and having an opening therein fro enabling said armature to operate said valve while serving as a stop for movement of said armature in each direction.
 6. The assembly claimed in claim 5 in which said means carried by said armature effective for communicating said fluid solely with said armature chamber includes a seal for sealing said plate opening in response to movement of said armature in said one direction.
 7. An assembly for use in starting an internal combustion engine by communicating to said engine a starting aid fluid released from an aerosol can on operation of a fluid releasing member at one end of said can, the improvement comprising a housing, a coil located in said housing, means for extending an electrical circuit through said housing to said coil from a remote position whereby said coil is energized, an armature for said coil and including a plunger with said armature and plunger operated in one direction on energization of said coil, means for biasing said plunger and armature in a direction opposite said one direction for movement in said opposite direction in response to deenergization of said coil, means on said housing for detachably supporting said aerosol can on said housing in a position wherein said releasing member is operated by said operation of said plunger in said onE direction to release said fluid from said can, a wall integrally formed on said housing for separating said coil from said can and having a passageway for receiving said plunger, a cup-shaped can having an annular wall fixed to said integral wall for encircling said armature and having an imperforate back wall spaced from said armature to define a chamber, means carried by said armature and plunger for transmitting said released gas in response to operation of said armature and plunger in said one direction to said chamber only, and means for transmitting said gas in said chamber through said passageway to said engine in response to deenergization of said coil and movement of said armature in said opposite direction to terminate operation of said releasing member.
 8. An assembly for use in starting an internal combustion engine having means for communicating a combustible fluid to said engine, the improvement comprising a housing, a coil in said housing energizable from a remote position, an armature encircled by said coil and operated in one direction on energization of said coil, an axial passageway extending through said armature, means for detachably supporting an aerosol can containing a combustible fluid on said housing for control by said operated armature to release said combustible fluid from said can, one wall integrally formed intermediate the ends of said housing with said coil and armature disposed one one side of said wall and said can disposed on the opposite side of said wall, a pair of communicating passageways in said wall with one of said pair of passageways extending axially of said coil and the other of said pair of passageways adapted to transmit fluid from said one passageway to said engine, means carried by said armature extending into said one wall passageway and having a passageway coaxial with said armature passageway in communication with said armature passageway and said pair of passageways and operated by said operated armature for transmitting said released combustible fluid from said can to said armature passageway while preventing the transmission of said released fluid to either of said pair of passageways in response to movement of said armature in said one direction for releasing said fluid, a spring in said one passageway for biasing said armature in the direction opposite said one direction, a cup-shaped member having an annular wall coaxial with said coil for encircling said armature and an imperforate back wall spaced from said armature to define a chamber communicating with said armature passageway for receiving a predetermined quantity of released fluid from said can in response to the control of said can to release said fluid by said operated armature and thereafter discharging said fluid to said pair of passageways in response to armature movement in opposite direction for placing said means passageway in communication with said pair of passageways, a pole piece for said coil sealingly engaged with said one side of said integrally formed wall, and a flange integrally formed on the end of said annular wall opposite said imperforate back wall for sealing engagement with said pole piece to prevent gas in said passageways from contacting said coil. 